Due West, SC – The Coker Cobras scored 11 unanswered runs in the first five and a half innings and then held off a late inning rally by Erskine to take home a 12-9 victory in the opening game of the Cobras three-game weekend series against the Flying Fleet on Friday afternoon at Grier Field.

The Cobras (14-21, 6-10) would jump on the Fleet for four runs in the top of the first on an RBI single by Daniel Hiatt (Elwood, Ind.) and a three run home run by Jake Frazier (Indian Harbor Beach, Fla.). Coker would add another run in the second and three more in the fourth to extend their lead to 8-0. Trailing 11-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Erskine’s Casey Winckowski would blast a three run home run to left centerfield to make it an 11-3 game. Erskine (22-12, 7-9) would add another run in the seventh on an RBI single by Brian Laznik, but the Cobras would answer back with a run or their own in the top of the eighth on a RBI single by Nick Fuoco (Palm Bay, Fla.).

Trailing 12-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the Fleet’s Zach Smith would double to right center to score Luke Danielewicz to make it a 12-5 game. Erskine would then get RBI singles from John Bolding and Winckowski to make it a five run game. Chase Corn would then hit a two run double down the left field line to pull the Fleet to within three runs but the rally would fall short as the Cobras held on for the victory.

Laznik led the Fleet at the plate going 4-for-5 with an RBI and run scored, while Winckowski was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI’s. Zach McAllister (3-2) took the loss allowing eight runs on seven hits in three innings of work.

Frazier was a perfect 3-for-3 for the Cobras with a home run and five runs driven in, while Matt Ammons (Chester, S.C.) and Fico Kondla (Miami, Fla.) both added two hits each. Tyler Witzel (Melbourne, Fla.) (5-4) picked up the win allowing four runs on eight hits in eight innings of work for Coker.

The two teams will conclude their series with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at noon.